Life does not end with a stage IV diagnosis (really!)

Hey, real and virtual house hunters: I used to look at properties in Nova Scotia. Big houses with views of the Bay of Fundy were about a tenth of what my property is worth here in the Greater Vancouver area. Our prices are INSANE. My tiny old house isn't worth the proverbial plug nickel but the dirt is assessed at the $1.2 M range. (33 x 120 ft lot) Million!!! I am on paper rich even if I am a civil servant pensioner "getting by". I love my neighbourhood and where would I go if I sold my place? I like being close to amenities and health facilities in particular these days given my age and health. I think Vancouver is up there with the most expensive places to live in the entire world - CRAZY

exbrngirl: ouch!! A series of unfortunate events. When I have had an episode like that I usually tell my DH that I shouldn't be allowed near sharp objects for awhile. One cannot be too careful ;-)

Aprilgirl, Wow! That sounds like a great trip b good for you!

aprilgirl: I so agree with the above. Plan it!! Even people without MBC can get plans derailed. Hey - it's a reason to keep on truckin'. Last summer I was planning to go to Scotland/England (Glastonbury in particular) for my 70th birthday. The B&B where I stayed with my DH in 1990 was still in operation, almost under the foot of the Tor. I was going to go alone as a sort of "period of self-reflection" Yeah - well that went sideways with the pandemic. The Tor and the Well will always be there and I can always self-reflect........later.......

Thanks for sharing everyone, yes, I, too, must continue to plan things!

Thanks for this. Needed to hear this today❤

SandiBeach - this looks great, bet you had lots of fun!

Sandi, you must be very limber to ride that thing; I’m pretty sure I’d wipe out if I got on one of those! You look great!

Ha. I have posted my photo before, got nervous about recognition and deleted it.

I guess I don"t care anymore!

HI y'all,

I was recently diagnosed with bone mets. I'm not in any pain, though the meds make me very brain tired. If I try to use my brain, read something and try to remember what I read and "work at it", I get even more tired. Or, try to remember what happened in a previous episode in a tv show.

What do y'all do for work? I imagine some of you went back to work after diagnosis. I'm trying to figure out what to do with myself. It would be good if I can do some work, so I can help my family save up some money. I don't feel great when I'm not doing "something".

Thanks

What do you currently do for work, and are there options in your field you could move into that require less working memory and are maybe more functional? How long have you been on your current drug combo? Sometimes it can take a while for everything to settle down, both from the drugs and the impact of diagnosis, so don't beat yourself up too badly as it could iron itself out in time.

I am still working the same job I had when diagnosed (desk based, a lot of thinking and getting people to agree to a plan and then putting that plan in place) and I remember having some brain fog too at the start. I take a lot of notes and stay organized and if something slips through the cracks I don't worry about it because I usually have to spend half of a meeting reminding people what we just talked about at the prior meeting. Everyone is so bombarded these days with information and technology and trying to multitask that NO ONE has a long term memory anymore it seems

If in a few months you still don't think you can/want to do your current job then you may want to consider working with a therapist who can help you identify where your current strengths are, and what sorts of jobs would play into those capabilities and are available in your area. Off the top of my head I would think a job that is process or policy driven,and operated to a specific set of outlined procedures that are written down, could work well. Have you spoken with your care team about your concerns?

Firstky, Happy Mothers Day. I’m new to this whole Stage IV - I’m still working right now but realize that may change. My work is pretty flexible - I’m Head of Marketing at a health care company - working from home adds more flexibility than before but I don’t know as I get more into this new diagnosis - how this may change.

Sunnidays and Firstky, I am sorry you have been dx at stage IV. I think all of us are blindsighted by a stage IV dx, and what it will do to our lives as we know it. I received great advice in 11/2019 by a lot of stage IV women who encouraged me to take a deep breath and see how treatment went before making huge changes. I am self employed but make a great living and love my job. I started treatment (Ibrance and faslodex) and to be honest, felt pretty good and continue to feel pretty good. I do have some fatigue and some joint pain if I garden too much but overall, have continued to live my life the way it was prior to stage IV. I do have a bucket list of places and things I would like to do in the near future. Covid delayed a lot of those plans! Spending time with my family is the top of my priority. I have booked a fabulous trip to France in 2023. Back when I was dx stage IV I would have been afraid to make plans 2 years in advance. If I change treatment and feel lousy, I will revisit my work and retirement. It does feel like I live a bit scan to scan, which in my case is still quarterly. Like Elderberry said, be kind to yourself!